Lekanoff wraps up a successful 2003 Legislative session

||| FROM THE OFFICE OF REP. DEBRA LEKANOFF |||

Happy Fantastic Friday!  

It’s hard to believe we’ve finished the 2023 legislative session! I want to take a moment to thank you for your engagement and advocacy. Your input and feedback have been invaluable in shaping the policies that will impact our communities for years to come.  

Here’s an update on some recent legislative developments from the last few weeks: 

Making Progress for Washington: Highlights of the House Democratic Caucus’s Achievements

Leading the fight to protect reproductive rights and gender affirming care 

I’m proud to share with you the work we’re doing to protect reproductive rights and gender-affirming care in Washington state. At a time when politicians across the country are attacking these fundamental rights, it’s more important than ever that we stand together to protect them. 

One of the most critical pieces of legislation we passed this session is the My Health, My Data Act, which ensures that our deeply personal health information, including reproductive health data, cannot be sold without our consent. We believe that everyone has the right to make their own healthcare decisions without fear of being judged or having their private information compromised. 

We also passed a bill that protects healthcare providers from disciplinary action for providing legal care in our state. This means that if a doctor loses their license in another state for providing care that is legal in Washington, their Washington license remains intact. We believe that healthcare providers should be able to provide the care their patients need without fear of losing their livelihoods. 

To further protect reproductive care, we passed the Shield Law, which provides legal protection for those who pursue or provide reproductive care in Washington. With this law, we’re making it clear that we won’t stand idly by while extremist lawmakers in other states try to restrict reproductive care. We’re committed to ensuring that everyone in our state has access to safe, legal, and affordable reproductive healthcare. 

We also eliminated co-pays and deductible requirements for abortion care, so that no one’s ability to access reproductive healthcare is impacted by their ability to pay. We believe that everyone, regardless of their income, should be able to access the healthcare they need. 

Finally, we passed a bill that allows Washington to distribute mifepristone, which is used to end a pregnancy or for miscarriage management. We believe that every individual has the right to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions, and that those decisions should be made between them and their healthcare provider. 

These bills are just a few examples of the work we’re doing to protect reproductive rights and gender-affirming care in Washington state. We’re committed to fighting for these fundamental rights and ensuring that everyone in our state has access to the healthcare they need. Thank you for your support and for standing with us in this important fight. 

Taking action for safer communities: Gun safety measures  

We are making amazing progress in the fight for gun responsibility. This has been a long-time passion of mine: it pains me deeply to witness the intergenerational anxiety caused by gun violence in schools, and the resulting trauma experienced by our children, families, and communities. 

House Bill 1240, House Bill 1143, and Senate Bill 5078 are critical steps toward achieving comprehensive gun responsibility. These bills ban assault weapons, mandate firearm safety training and a 10-day waiting period and ensure that firearm industry members are held accountable for responsible sale, distribution, and marketing of their products. Together, they represent a significant effort towards ensuring the safety of our communities and preventing the devastating impact of gun violence on our families and loved ones. 

Housing for every person in every corner of Washington  

This year, my colleagues and I made housing our top legislative priority and we have successfully passed policies to address Washington’s housing supply crisis. With the shortage of about 150,000 units and the number rapidly increasing, we recognized the need for more homes of all types to provide affordable housing options for everyone. Our focus was on allowing more diverse housing options and streamlining the regulatory process to make it easier for developers to build. 

Here’s a summary of what we have accomplished so far: 

One of the bills we passed, House Bill 1110, requires cities to allow for more diverse housing options in residential neighborhoods, depending on their size. This legislation will help slow urban sprawl and prevent deforestation, reduce pollution causing traffic, and protect our watersheds. By increasing middle housing supply, we are also promoting more affordable housing options. 

For cities between 25K and 75K, the legislation requires two units everywhere and four units within a ¼ mile walking distance of a major transit stop. Cities with populations over 75K are required to allow four units everywhere and six units within ¼ mile walking distance of a major transit stop. Additionally, these cities must allow six units anywhere when two units are affordable. 

Cities under 25K and within the contiguous urban growth area of the largest city of a county with a population of 275K are only required to allow two units per lot in all residential zones. 

In addition to HB 1110, we passed House Bill 1337, which eases barriers to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) construction. ADUs are some of the most affordable options to construct additional housing supply. This legislation requires cities and counties to allow ADUs in urban growth areas (UGAs) and prohibits certain regulations that hinder ADU construction. 

House Bill 1042 helps to rapidly convert unused or underused existing buildings into new housing. By removing barriers to creating housing within these existing buildings, we can quickly house families in need. 

To finance affordable housing, we passed House Bill 1046, which increases the benchmark for area median income, opening resources to low-income households. This legislation significantly improves opportunities for partnerships between public housing authorities and private developers. 

Finally, House Bill 1293 streamlines development regulations by requiring cities and counties to apply only clear and objective design review standards to the exterior of new development. This legislation will help streamline the project permit process and create more certain timelines for developers. 

Breaking down barriers: empowering students through the Student Basic Needs Act 

I am proud to share with you the news that House Bill 1559, which was sponsored by Rep. Entenman, passed in the Senate.  This bill, titled the Student Basic Needs Act, aims to remove barriers to educational opportunity for students in Washington by ensuring that their basic needs are met. 

In 2020, the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges (SBCTC) reported that six out of 10 community or technical college students in Washington State experienced hunger or housing insecurity in the previous year, despite being employed. This issue affects students of all backgrounds, but students of color, students identifying as LGBTQ, and students with histories of foster care and incarceration are disproportionately represented in the study. 

It is clear that students who are hungry or experiencing housing insecurity have a harder time focusing on their studies. That is why the Student Basic Needs Act is so important. The bill implements Student Basic Needs task forces in higher education institutions, requiring them to develop Hunger-Free Campus Strategic Plans. In each plan, the task force must analyze gaps in student needs, design a Benefits Resource Hub, provide access to a campus food pantry, create and update methods to identify food-insecure students, and provide reports to detail the findings. 

Students need access to basic needs such as food, water, nutrition, shelter, clothing, physical healthcare, and mental healthcare. These needs should not create barriers to education for anyone in Washington. I believe that expanding educational opportunity and breaking down prohibitive barriers for our students is a critical step towards a more equitable and just society. 

Thank you for your continued support for this important initiative. 

Bold climate action for the future of our state 

Streamlining clean energy siting 

I am proud to announce the passage of House Bill 1216 and the positive impact it will have on clean energy siting in our state. Working diligently with the tribes, the Department of Ecology, and the Governor’s office, we have crafted a bill that streamlines the permitting process for clean energy projects while still providing a thorough review. 

As we work to decarbonize our economy and expand our energy production, we must consider the environmental impact of these projects. House Bill 1216 ensures that new clean energy projects, including wind, solar, green electrolytic hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel, and renewable natural gas, will be subject to the same level of review as other projects, but in a more coordinated and streamlined manner. 

A budget for a Resilient Washington

Investing in our community  

A Budget for all Washingtonians 

The Resilient Washington Biennial Operating budget is a $69.3 billion budget to fund critical state services and boosts funding for students, workers, behavioral health, housing, and climate action. The budget prioritizes equity considerations, relying on what communities have shared with lawmakers to guide decisions, considering racial equity with targeted investments while also weaving equity throughout the budget. 

Setting Sail to Success: Washington State Invests in New Ferries  

I am pleased to share with you the recent investments the state has made in Washington State Ferries (WSF). As you know, our district heavily relies on ferries for daily commutes to work and school, making the state’s investment in WSF crucial for our community’s economic and social well-being. Through House Bill 1846, the state has opened the procurement of new vessels to national shipbuilders while still prioritizing Washington shipbuilders by providing a 13 percent credit for bid proposals for vessels constructed in-state. These investments will ensure WSF continues to operate safely and efficiently, providing essential transportation services to our community for years to come. 

I’m so proud of the work from this session that will improve the lives of Washingtonians and make our communities safer, greener, and more equitable. 

As we move forward, I encourage you to stay involved, stay informed, and continue advocating for the issues that matter to you. Stay tuned for information about opportunities to connect over the interim. I look forward to working together towards a brighter future for our state. 

I am here for you!